Lee’s spot of bother

FOOD FOR THOUGHT . . . Athletic boss Lee Johnson looks on.

Referee Gary Sutton admitted he could possibly have awarded a first-half penalty to Athletic, said Latics manager Lee Johnson after the game.

Cristian Montano’s volley at goal was halted by the outstretched arm of Adam Chambers. But with the game scoreless, Sutton waved away the protests of the home side.

“That one was an absolute stone-wall banker. I asked the referee after and he said ‘well yeah, maybe’.

“I thought, ‘thanks mate!’ It is not an easy job and we will get some and not get some. But without a doubt that was handball.”

On a disappointing afternoon for Athletic, James Baxendale registered the only goal soon afterwards.

Despite plenty of effort in the second half, Johnson’s men struggled to break the resolute visitors and managed a total of two shots on target all game.

“In the first half we lacked energy. They looked sharper than us. In the second half we still lacked bite but we certainly gave it a go. It just didn’t quite click.”

Walsall move into third in the early Sky Bet League One standings while Athletic, who have a difficult trip to second-placed Peterborough on Saturday, slip to 10th.